LeBron James was working at his high school basketball camp in Las Vegas when he heard the news: Ray Allen was coming to the Miami Heat.

James dropped what he was doing and picked up the phone immediately to call Allen. His persistent badgering of the Celtics free agent had finally paid off.

"I was very excited," James said. "I knew what he was able to do against me in the past, and I knew that threat could add an added dimension to our team that we haven't had the first two years here in Miami."

The reason James was so excited showed Thursday night in the building where Allen’s NBA career began. The 17-year veteran scored 23 points to help Miami to a 104-91 victory, becoming the NBA's all-time leader in postseason 3-pointers made in the process. Because of contributions from Allen, Chris Andersen and Norris Cole, Miami's trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh haven't had to do a whole lot to ease to three straight playoff wins in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series. Sure, it's against the eighth-seeded Bucks, but Miami's role players have been the ones putting Milwaukee away.

Wade had one of the worst shooting nights of his career Thursday, going 1 of 14 from the field and scoring just four points. For James, his 22 points in Game 3 were pedestrian; same with Bosh's 16 points and 14 rebounds.

The three stars haven't had to be great in order for the Heat to make this look easy.

"That's been our calling card all year with the depth that we have," said Allen, who played his first six-plus seasons with Milwaukee. "We have so many guys sitting on the bench that are so productive when they get in the game, whether you've played the last game or last two or three games. Guys come off the bench, and they are ready. That's a great testimony to this team and how have grown from Day 1 until now."

Not many players who have accomplished as much as Allen has would have accepted the role he plays with Miami. In a league full of egos, Allen dropped his at the door when arriving in Miami. But he's not just chasing a ring. Allen has a lot left in the tank at age 37, and he proved it Thursday night.